Interesting approach:

The White Stripes are letting fans hear tracks from their forthcoming album 'Elephant' first.

We wanted to thank all the people that have supported The White Stripes by buying their albums and signing up to our mailing lists, so we have created a secret area only for you!

We're asking you to give us some information about yourself, but in return you get the chance to hear songs from the brand new album 'Elephant' before it is released on 31st March.

To access this area, you will need a CD of 'White Stripes', 'De Stijl' or 'White Blood Cells'. Just enter your details below then click OK. A small plug-in will be downloaded to your machine, click OK to authorise this, then put your CD into your CD ROM drive, your disc will be verified, then you're through to the music.

For each of the White Stripes album that you possess, you will be able to hear a new track, so if you own all 3 albums, you get to hear 3 new tracks.

Big apologies to all Mac OSX users but this is for Mac OS9 and PC users only, technology - pah !, we'll catch up soon

This is from the band's UK label, XL, so I don't know if this will work with domestic US versions of these albums. I don't have the patience to try it for myself, but would very much appreciate hearing from US Stripe-heads who give it a whirl. My guess is that it won't work without the XL version of the discs.